Key mechanism for organs.



4AR. HOPE-JONES. KEY Mecmmsm fonfonfcms. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. l2. |910.

1,203,621. -Patented N0v.7,1916.

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NTED STATES PATENT OFFCE ROBERT HOPE-JONES, OF NORTH TONAVIANDA, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR T0 RUDOLEH VJURLITZER Ii/IANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF NORTH TONAWANDA, NEW YORK, A

CORPORATION 0F NEW YORK.

KEY MECHANISM non oneens.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 7,1916.

Application led September 12, 1910. Serial No. 581,622.

To all 107mm it may concern Be it known that I, Bonner Horn-Jones,

oi North Tonawanda, in the County of Ning forming a part of the specification, and

the reference-numerals marked thereon.

My present invention has for its object to provide certain improvements in connection with the keys or manuals used in operating organs or similar musical instruments where by their action may be controlled so that their operation will require the exact touch or pressure to be applied to them which the musician may desire.

Another objectof my invention is to provide a key mechanism, in which each key will be capable of occupying` during its movement in one direction, two or more positions for the purpose of successively operating different devices employed 'for controlling ditlerent sets of sound-producing devices for obtaining different musical etfects upon successive movements of a single key.

My invention also provides means for controlling the act-ion ot the key itselt so that the passing from one position to another is indicated to the player by the increase in the force of the touch pressure required which is at once relieved to permit the key to he held in operated position easily without exertion. I

To these and other ends the invention consists in certain improvements and combinations ot' parts, all as will be hereinafter more fully described, the novel features being pointed out in the claims at the end ot' the specification.

In the drawings: Figure l is a transverse sectional view of the keyboard of a musical instrument showing one embodiment of my present invention; Fig. 2 a similar viev. showing` a key depressed into the tirst touch position, and Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic illus tration showing parts of an electrically controlled musical instrument illustrating their operation in conjunction with the key mech-` anism embodying my invention.

Similar reference numerals in the several iigures indicate similar parts.

In illustrating my invention lV have shown a key-bed composed ot' the outer or torward rail l and the inner or pivot rail 2, separated from the former, both of said rails extending longitudinally between the ends or cheek pieces, one oi"- which is shown indicated by 3. The keys forming part ot the action are all similar in construction and for this reason only one oi' them is illustrated. The key vor manual, as it is sometimes called, which is indicated by A rests upon the railj on which it is loosely secured by the pivot -pin 4. The outer end 5 of the key which is depressed by the finger of the operator projects beyond the rail l and the inner or rear end (i of said key projects in rear oi the pivot pin l any desired distance.

A key such as describes while Vpracticable to any Jform of musical instrument is adapt` ed particularly to be used in connection with organ actions and of that type known as electric actions in which the speaking ot' the various pipes and sound producing devices is controlled by the action or mechanism operated bv the keys. ln electrically controlled organs these devices are in the form of contacts which comprise terminals of normally open circuit-s which are closed upon the movement of the key, these circuits air in the passages employed for effecting the operation oit the sound producing devices.

4The introduction ot' electric actions into organs has so greatly relieved lthe work required to be performed by the key itself, in the previously existing types ot' organs, that it has been possible to render these keys as quick and responsive in their movement as those of a pianoforte. This, however, carries with it its disadvantages as' many organists ot the present day are accustomed to the old type of keyboard with its sluggish action, known as tracker action. Owing to the further fact that in each organ there are several different sets of keys, such choir, great, solo and swell keyboards, all ot' which are operated manually, and treyquently two or more of lthem being played upon at the same time, it is desirable that the individual keys be so controlled that they require the performer to exercise a certain amount of force or exertion to move them out 0f their normal position.

1n the present embodiment of my invention I have shown means for retarding the action of the keys comprising a mechanism operated pneumatically, and embodying generally a relief valve connected to the key which is held closed by a pressure of air against it suficient to counterbalance any predetermined touch pressure which it is desired be exerted on the cuter end 5 of the key. As one means of carrying out this object of my invention. l have shown a chambered member B arranged in rear of the pivot rail 2 and beneath the ends 6 of the several keys comprising the keyboard. @n the lower face of the member B is a valveseat 7 connected by a small passage 8 to a larger passage 9 in which a partial vacuum is maintained by any suitable form of air pumping or exhausting apparatus, as will be understood. Cooperating with this seat is a valve-head 10 mounted upon the end 11 of a lever pivoted at 12, the other extremity 13 of said lever being connected by a rod 14- to the end G of the key, said rod being at*` tached to the lever by a pivot pin 15, andcarrying at its upper end an adjustable nut 16 resting against the upper side of the key. Passing through the pivot point 152 of the lever is a pin 17 having at its outer end a spring coil 18, the extremity 19 of which bears against the end 11 of the lever, and is of sufficient tension to normally hold the valve-head 10 against the seat 7 and to restore the key A to its normal position. It Y will be seen that by this arrangement of the parts the spring 18 may in itself be comparatively weak, but that the atmospheric pressure acting on the outer side of the valve-head 11 will tend to keep the latter against its seat. The pressure required to be exerted on the end of the key to depress it will be proportional to the area of the head 10 and the degree to which the air is rarefied in or exhausted from the passage 9. In practice these parts would be so proportioned that a normal organ action touch equal to about three and a half ounces in weight will be required to move the key downwardly or cause it to dip. A particular advantage is obtained in the use of the cooperating valve and seat for controlling the action of the key, because the movement of the latter is prevented or retarded up to the instant the required pressure .is applied on the key, and 'the valve-head being then moved away from its seat, immediately relieves the tension on the key permitting the operator to hold it in its actuated position with but very slight exertion when holding sustained notes.

In order to produce new musical effects and at the same time reduce the operations which a musician is ordinarily required to perform, such as the drawing of stops and couplers, I have provided a mechanism whereby each key may be employed to operate a plurality of devices arranged to be actuated successively at different points in the movement of the key, each of sa'd devices being adapted to control different sets of sound-producing apparatus.

ln the present embodiment of my inwention I have illustrated the controlling devices, referred to above, as electromagneti- `cally operated and comprising' electric circuits which are opened and closed by the action of the key A, and in this instance l have shown the key as adapted to actuate successively two separate instru1nent-con trolling devices, the first being` brought into action by the normal touch applied to the key, the other being a second touch which requires a second or increased touch pressure to be exerted, will be further described.

@ne of the main features of the invention resides in providing two or more instrumentcontrolling' devices arranged for successive operation during the movement of the keyY in one direction. its an example showing the operation of such controlling devices and the manner in which. they may be tuated bythe keys l have illustrated dia grammatically in Fig. 3 parts of an organ mechanism with which a key of this description may be employed.l ln this ligure C indicates a flue-pipe, such as Diapason, while D indicates a reed-pipe, both connected to their respective wind chests in which are arranged the valve or valves for controlling their operation; c and (Z represent the electromagnets controlling such `valves which are arranged in circuit with the battery X. The circuit controlling the magnet c cour prises the wire c leadingto the terminal c2, with which cooperates the contact c3 connected by the wire af to onefside of the battery, the opposite pole of the latter being connected to the other terminal of the magnet c by the wire m2. rThe latter is also con- L nected to one end of the coil'of the magnet CZ, its `opposite extremity being joined by the wire d to the terminal J2, and adapted to cooperate therewith is the second touch contact (Z3, also connected to the battery by the wire The contacts c3 and Z3 are both carried on the underside of the key A, and the terminals c2 and cl2, respectively, are so ar ranged that upon 'the initial movement of the key the circuit of the magnet c is first completed to cause the speaking of the pipe C; the other set of contacts (Z2 and (Z3, are so positioned Ithat they are not brought into engagement until the key has been further depressed, nearly to the limit of its movement, at which time the magnet d is energized permitting the pipe D to sound its note.

The contacts lastdescribed are illust-rated enlarged in Figs. l and 2, the terminals being shown as comprising' flexible spring iingers or wires mounted in holders 20, one of the latter supporting the terminal c2 of 'the Iirst touch set of contacts. These holders are mounted in cradles '2l which are supported at their ends and adjusted as shown, the terminals [Z2 of the second touch set of contacts being so positioned that this set may be closed at the proper point in the movement of the ltey l. The. contact members c3, (L73 cooperating `vit-li the terminals, are each secured at one end to the key by a screv.Y or other .fastening device 22, their free ends being adjusted by means of ,screws as ivill be understood.

ln order to arrest the movement of the he); in an intermediate position after 'the contacts cf, ofi have been closed together-and before the second set of contacts have been brought into engagement, l empl-oy an arresting mechanism, vvhich interrupts the movement of the key, but vvill permit the operator to impart a further movement thereto if he so desires. This arresting mechai ism performs the function of a yielding stop which, after limiting the initial movement of the key, permits the latter to be further advanced by the exertion thereon of a touch pressure exceeding the pressure required in the first instance to actuate the key.

Als a means of carryingout this feature of my invention, I have also shown a pneumatic device comprising a, valve seat 251. arranged on the upper side of the chambered member B from which air is exhausted through the passage 25 and trunk Q6, the latter corresponding to the passage E) and either connected lthereto or leading directlyT to separate apparatus for exhausting the air therefrom. Cooperating with the valve seat Q4. is a valve head 27 supported on the lever QS pivoted at one end as indicated at 29, and having its opposite extremity perforated or slotted, as indicated at 30, to permit the rod ll to extend therethrough. Adjustably threaded on the rod l-l is the nut 3l forming an engaging shoulder located beneath the end 30 of the lever L8, and adjustable relatively thereto for the purpose of controlling the movement of the key after it has been depressed and the valve head l0 moved our. of engagement With the seat 7, as shown in lEig. 2. The valve seat Q-l and the head 27 are preferably made larger in area than the corresponding parts 7 and l0 so that for the same amount of suction, or number of inches of vacuum, produced in the passages 9 and Q6, the momentum in the key as it is operated by the cause the valve head to be lifted and therei upon bring the contact member at' into engagement with the terminal (Z2. it vthis time both sets of contacts vaill be closed, the first set yielding slightly to maintain a good rubbing contact between them.

lt will be seen that vvvhen the resistance of the valve head '27 has been overcome and the hey depressed to the limit of its movement, it may be held in this position by a light pressure of the operators finger.

An apparatus embodying my invention comprises buty feu' parts and these may be made small in sise and located compactly in the space provided between the rails of the lteybed.

l claim as my invention:

l. The combination With a pivoted key, of a chambered member located at one side thereof having valve seats on its opposite faces and provided with passages leading therefrom in which a partial vacuum is maintained, separate valve heads coperating with Said valve seats, pivoted levers each connected with said valve heads, a tension rod connecting one of said levers with said key and extending past the other lever and a shoulder on the rod adapted to operate the last mentioned lever after the first lever has been moved.

T he combination with a pivoted key, of a chambered member arranged beneath it from vvhich air is exhausted, provided with a valve seat, a valve head cooperating with the latter, a. lever pivoted exteriorly beneath the chamber having one end connected to the valve head and its other extremity projecting beyond the side of said chamber and a tension rod connecting the said end of the lever to the key.

3. The combination with a pivoted key for musical instruments, of tvvo restraining mechanisms adapted to counterbalance different predetermined touch-pressures on the key, a connectingmember arranged between the key and the mechanism counteracting the lighter touch-pressure and a shoulder on said member cooperating with the other heavier-touch-pressure mechanism during the operative movement of the key and after the restraint of the first mentioned mechanism has been overcome.

et. The combination'vvith a movable key for musical instruments, a chambered member at one side ofthe key, from Which air is exhausted, having two valve seats, and valve heads cooperating with the Seats, of separate levers pivoted on the chambered member and Connected to said heads for moving them away from their seats, each lever having a .tree end projecting beyond the edge of the chamhered member and a rod connecting the free end of one of said levers to the key for actuating it upon the commencement of the movement of the key and a shoulder on said rod eoperating with the 'lree end off the other lever at a 1pre-determined point in the movement of the key.

rEhe combination with a key for musical instruments, a pivotal support therefor arranged inteimediete its length and a ehamhered member from which the air is exhausted having two valve seats opening' in opposite directions7 of valve heads eoperat ing' With the seats.l levers for operating said heads away from their seats each having an eperating end and a rod fasteningthe key to one lever and haring a shoulder adapted t0 coperate with the other lever at an in-` tei-mediate point in the movement of the key.

G. The combination with a key bed having a pivot rail, a nivoted thereon and a chamhered member located in rear of the rail haring' valve seats enits opposite faces and provided with passages leading` therefrom, and means 'for producing; a partial 'vacuum in said passages, of separate valve heads coperating with the Valve seats and coimections between the rear end of the key end said heads for moving` them successively f from their respective seats during' the downward movement of the outer end of the key.

ROBERT EGFR-JONES. 'Vitnesses MARY A. WTILLETT, J. B. PARKE.

Genies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, ashngton, D. C. 

